Deputy Prime Minister

Peter Luff: To ask the Leader of the House if he will make provision for the Deputy Prime Minister to answer oral questions.

Jack Straw: Yes. I have today updated the first oral question rota to reflect Ministerial responsibilities of the Deputy Prime Minister, a copy of which is available in the Table Office.

British Poultry (Japanese Ban)

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Japanese Government following its ban on British poultry products.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 8 May 2006
	Defra officials continue to liaise with British embassy colleagues in Tokyo, who in turn are in contact with the Japanese authorities about the trade restrictions that were imposed following the recent outbreak of H7N3 in Norfolk.
	The Japanese authorities have asked for further information about the nature of the disease, and for details of the remedial action taken. We are doing all we can to have these restrictions lifted as quickly as possible.

Pollution

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her Answer to the hon. Member for Morley and Rothwell (Collin Challen) of 28 March 2006, Official Report, column 843W, on pollution, what the levels for(a) international aviation and (b) international shipping were in (i) 1990 and (ii) 2004.

Ian Pearson: Emissions from international aviation and shipping can be estimated from refuelling from bunkers at UK airports and ports (whether by UK or non-UK operators).
	Between 1990 and 2004, emissions from aviation fuel use more than doubled whilst emissions from UK shipping bunker fuel use fell by about an eighth, although UK operators purchase most of their fuel outside the UK.
	
		
			 Mt 
			  International aviation International shipping 
			 1990 4.3 1.8 
			 2004 9.0 1.6 
			 Source: Greenhouse gas inventory for aviation and shipping bunkers

Arms Supply (Developing Countries)

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on Government policy on supplying arms to developing countries.

Hilary Benn: The Government believe that all countries are entitled to provide for their own legitimate defence and security needs, including developing countries. All export licence applications are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, including whether the export would seriously hamper sustainable development in the recipient country.
	We do however, need better international regulation of the arms trade. That is why the Government are calling for an Arms Trade treaty covering all conventional weapons.

Doha

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent progress has been made in respect of developing countries in the Doha round of trade negotiations.

Gareth Thomas: The WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December made just enough progress to keep the current negotiations on track. The most recent end April deadline to make further substantial progress has been missed. Pascal Lamy has called for a greater sense of urgency in the talks from all delegations. These talks will now move to a more intensive phase in Geneva.

St. Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will visit St. Helena to discuss improvements to its economy.

Gareth Thomas: I have no current plans to visitSt Helena. Whenever possible I meet with island councillors and officials visiting the UK and we discuss a wide range of issues. The development of St. Helena's economy remains a priority and was a key factor in last year's decision to build an airport in St. Helena. We are now working closely with the St. Helena Government to develop appropriate policies to facilitate sound and sustainable economic development.

Darfur

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government are taking to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UK has played a leading role in the international community's response to Darfur, including support to the Abuja peace talks. Since 2003, we have has contributed £113 million to humanitarian relief and a further £52 million in support of the African Union mission in Darfur. We continue to press our international donor partners to contribute more. We are also actively lobbying the Government of Sudan to allow full and unrestricted access for humanitarian agencies to the displaced and vulnerable people across Darfur.

Nigeria

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on UK aid to Nigeria.

Hilary Benn: The UK committed £70 million of development assistance to Nigeria in 2005-06. Thiswill rise to £80 million in 2006-07. DFID's assistanceto Nigeria is focussed on supporting the Nigerian Government's own economic growth and poverty reduction strategy; improving governance and the accountability of Government to the Nigerian people; and on contributing directly to improved human development, in the areas of health, education and HIV and AIDS. DFID works closely with the Nigerian Government at Federal level and in selected states to achieve these aims and also works in close partnership with other donors in Nigeria, particularly the World Bank.

Environmental Sustainability

Celia Barlow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the integration of policies on climate change and environmental sustainability into her Department's work.

Gareth Thomas: A new Policy Paper "DFID's Approach to the Environment", published in February 2006, describes how we integrate the environment into our work with developing countries and other donors. The main focus is on how environment contributes to poverty reduction in developing countries.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the impact of the security situation in Afghanistan on the alternative livelihoods programme.

Hilary Benn: The successful delivery of alternative livelihood programmes is highly dependent on the ability of organisations doing the delivery on the ground, being able to operate safely. Security in many parts of Afghanistan is improving, particularly in central, northern and western areas and further progress can be made by strengthening the effectiveness of the Afghan police and criminal justice system. However security remains a particular challenge in the south and east of the country, where the insurgency is most active.
	Continuing threats to the safety of Afghan and international staff have meant that some non-governmental organisations and international contractors are finding it increasingly difficult to operate in some parts of the country. The majority of DFID's livelihoods programme is channelled through the National Priority Programmes of the Afghan Government. This helps to reduce some of the security risks by using local contractors, but there have been a number of attacks on implementing partners of these national programmes. Although attacks have increased, so far they have not caused widespread suspension of alternative livelihoods programmes.
	Helmand province will be a particularly challenging place in which to deliver programmes that will support the development of alternative livelihoods. DFID is currently designing a large multi-year programme to support rural development in Helmand through the National Priority Programmes of the Afghan Government. This support will only be successful if implementing partners are willing to work in the province. The UK military deployment to Helmand should help to facilitate a greater Afghan Government presence in the province, and improve the capacity of the police and the Afghan National Army to provide the necessary security for development partners to operate effectively.

Burma

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding she is making available to assist the humanitarian effort for internally displaced people in (a) Burma and (b) the Karen State; and what funds she has given to non-governmental organisations to monitor these aid efforts.

Gareth Thomas: Within DFID's programme in Burma, £500,000 has provisionally been allocated in this financial year to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), of which approximately 80 per cent. is attributable to work with conflict-affected populations. In addition, several other projects funded by DFID which provide assistance through local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (for example, to reduce the incidence of communicable diseases, or to enhance food security) include internally displaced people among their recipients.
	All of the funding allocated to NGOs implementing projects on behalf of DFID includes an element for monitoring and evaluation. Various projects (including those of the ICRC and those working to reduce the incidence of communicable diseases or to enhance food security) include Karen State within their coverage, but as their funding is not disaggregated by state, it is not possible to provide specific figures for Karen State.

Education Millennium Goal

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution the UK has made to meeting the millennium development goal on education; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Progress towards the goals of achieving universal primary education and eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2015 has been made globally over the past decade, but the pace is too slow.
	The Government will spend some £8.5 billion in support of education over the next 10 years. This compares to a figure of under £2 billion over the past ten years. This long-term commitment will provide governments with predictable funding against which they can prepare ambitious 10 year investment plans to achieve the education Goals. DFID will continue to implement its Girls Education strategy, launched in 2005.

Palestinian Authority

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assurances she is seeking from the Palestinian Authority which would allow the full aid programme to be restored.

Hilary Benn: On 30 March, the Quartet (comprising the United States, European Union, the United Nations and Russia) noted that the new Palestinian government had not yet complied with the principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel's right to exist and commitment to peace agreements. Without progress against these principles, the UK Government cannot provide support to the Palestinian Cabinet or its Ministries.
	Should the Palestinian Government comply with the Quartet's conditions, DFID would resume its support to the Palestinian Authority. Assistance to Palestinian refugees through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) will continue, and the Quartet agreed yesterday that a funding mechanism should be developed to support Palestinian basic needs. DFID is working closely with international partners to take this forward.

Kyoto Targets

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2006, Official Report, column 815W, what the evidential basis was for his statement that the Government will meet its Kyoto targets.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made on 28 March 2006, Official Report, columns 57-58WS by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mrs. Beckett) on "Climate Change?The UK Programme 2006".

Corporate Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on how many occasions he has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months.

Parmjit Dhanda: Paragraph 5.28 of the Ministerial Code which sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality. All ministerial hospitality is conducted in accordance with this.

Departmental Staff

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) women and (b) men are employed in the Department; what the average pay was for (i) women and (ii) men in the Department in (A) 1997 and (B) 2006; what women's average pay is as a percentage of men's average pay; and how many (1) women and (2) men the Department employed in each of the last five years, broken down by grade.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Cabinet Office collects and publishes annually statistical information on the Civil Service by Department. The number of (a) women and (b) men employed in my Department is available in the Library and on the Civil Service website at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/statistics/employment/index.asp.
	My Department was formed in 2001. The median pay for (i) women and (ii) men in my Department in (A) 2001 and (B) 2006 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Women Men 
			 2001 18,210 21,720 
			 2006 25,110 27,720 
			 Note:The median pay in this table is gross salary rounded to the nearest 10 and includes London and national salaries. For part time staff, the full time equivalent salary has been used. 
		
	
	Women's median pay is 90.6 per cent. of men's median pay.
	The number of (1) women and (2) men employed by my Department in each of the last five years, broken down by grade level, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 
			 Grade level Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men 
			 SCS 37 72 46 71 50 83 54 78 48 77 
			 G7/6 240 298 258 308 291 317 304 313 317 338 
			 SEO 237 251 301 272 337 297 334 288 329 261 
			 HEO 549 476 644 472 681 469 572 409 528 410 
			 EO 662 371 714 378 739 373 645 325 538 303 
			 AO 607 272 599 293 644 314 515 238 397 189 
			 AA 146 109 142 106 109 100 70 79 48 65 
			 Total 2,478 1,849 2,704 1,900 2,851 1,953 2,494 1,730 2,205 1,643 
			 Note:  Figures are based on a headcount of all staff.

Departmental Websites

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list (a) the websites operated by his Department and (b) the reports placed on the internet in March 2006, indicating in each case whether paper copies were also made available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department runs the following main URL domains:
	dfes.gov.uk
	milleniumvolunteers.gov.uk
	everychildmatters.gov.uk
	childcarecareers.gov.uk
	childrights.gov.uk
	connexions.gov.uk
	conexionsonline.gov.uk
	connexions-direct.com
	need2know.co.uk
	surestart.gov.uk
	parentscentre.gov.uk
	sendist.gov.uk
	teachernet.gov.uk
	governornet.co.uk
	writehere.org.uk
	fasttrackteaching.gov.uk
	schoolsadjudicator.gov.uk
	foundationdegree.org.uk
	admissions-review.org.uk
	hestrategy.org.uk
	successforall.gov.uk
	kingsmillreview.gov.uk
	bsf.gov.uk
	musicmanifesto.gov.uk
	schoolsfoodtrust.co.uk
	Note that these include a number of cross-Whitehall websites which the Department runs on behalf of Department collaborations. Also note that this list excludes web addresses that are run by NDPBs, Department agencies or which are redirected to those listed above.
	The Department does not keep a list of the reports placed online by month. This is because the technical infrastructure to enable the Department to do so is not yet in place. However, the capability of determining a list of reports placed on the website by month for all Department websites will be delivered over 2007/08.
	The majority of reports are available in print form, and placed on the website in a PDF format.

Disabled People

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress his Department has made in fulfilling its statutory role as public body to promote the rights of disabled people.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department is fully committed to equality and diversity. The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 places new duties on public authorities to promote equality for disabled people, 'the Disability Equality Duty.'
	Through the Act, we, like many public bodies, have an obligation to publish a Disability Equality Scheme every three years. Our Equality and Diversity Unit has begun work on the Department's first scheme, to be published later this year. Policy officials will be undertaking a full departmental-wide examination of our policies and functions in relation to disability and other equality issues. Action plans will be produced to address all issues and these will be monitored and reviewed through the annual business planning process. The scheme will be published on the Department's website. This information will contribute towards preparations for the Secretary of State's report on progress, due in December 2008. My Department has also provided support on implementing the new duties to a number of other public authorities including schools and other public bodies. Further information on this and other support is shown as follows.
	Annex 1
	Examples of DfES support for other authorities include:
	Schools and early years:
	The Department for Education and Skills is holding a series of events in May and June to launch the new resource "Implementing the Disability Discrimination Act in schools and early years settings" to help schools and local authorities implement the reasonable adjustments duty and planning duty they have under Part 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act by providing:
	An explanation of the DDA duties and their relationship to the statutory SEN framework;
	a DVD resource filmed in over 40 schools?illustrating how schools have made reasonable adjustments to prevent discrimination against disabled pupils and increase their access to education; plus supporting written materials;
	templates for schools and local authorities to use in reviewing and revising their statutory accessibility plans;
	guidance for local authorities on increasing access to early years settings for very young disabled children.
	The resource will help schools and local authorities to make adjustments for their disabled pupils both in the short and longer term by improving access to all aspects of school life. The guidance identifies how schools and local authorities' access planning arrangements will help compliance with the Disability Equality Duty.
	The Disability Rights Commission will give a presentation at the events providing an overview of the duties schools and local authorities will have under the Disability Equality Duty. They will also make participants aware of the sixth section that will be added to the resource in the autumn as part of the non statutory guidance being developed for schools by the Disability Rights Commission on the new Disability Equality Duty.
	DfES's work with DRC/LSC/FE/HE in preparing for implementation of the new disability duty:
	DfES has been participating in a series of round-table workshops over the past year with the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), Learning and Skills Council, Higher Education Funding Council for England and external partners in the Further and Higher Education sectors, to prepare for the forthcoming public sector duty to promote disability equality. DRC plans to publish guidance for the FHE sector in May.
	LSC's existing statutory duty to promote disability equality:
	Section 14 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000, requires the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), in carrying out all of its functions, to have due regard to the promotion of equality of opportunity in terms of disability, race and gender. In addition, section 13 requires the LSC to pay particular regard to the needs of young people and adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, when performing its duties to secure facilities and provide resources for education and training.
	DfES are working with the LSC to run an equalities impact assessment across the skills strategy programme. This will include disability. We aim to complete this by the end of October 2006.

Missing Children

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken in relation to the recommendations of the social exclusion unit's report on runaway children;
	(2)  if he will publish his Department's strategy for safeguarding runaway and missing children;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to safeguard the health of runaway and missing children.

Parmjit Dhanda: The key recommendations in the social exclusion unit's (SEU) report on 'Young Runaways' were that young people at risk of running away should know who they could talk to about their problems, that local services needed to work closer together to make sure young people got help, and that a safety net of community-based emergency accommodation was needed for those who did run away.
	The findings of the SEU report, which was published in 2002, influenced the wider Government strategy on children's services, which was set out in the Green Paper 'Every Child Matters' (2003). It is through the 'Every Child Matters: Change for Children' programme currently being taken forward by local authorities, and including the reforms set out in the Green Paper 'Youth Matters', that the Government are promoting measures that respond to the SEU report.
	'Change for Children' aims to help local services respond to the full range of children's needs—including their health, their safety and their economic well-being. It is particularly concerned with improving targeted support for those children most at risk of negative outcomes, such as those associated with running away or going missing from home. The programme, drawing on the Children Act 2004 reforms, is enabling local areas to improve integrated working arrangements by establishing multi-disciplinary teams, while adopting a lead professional model—someone who is a single point of contact for a young person who can co-ordinate a package of support when multiple needs are present requiring help from various sources. Improved integrated working at a local level is being accompanied by enhanced information sharing between services, leading to earlier identification of children's needs. This in turn allows young people to be referred to the right source of support, at the right time. New Joint Inspection Arrangements will judge the effectiveness and co-ordination of such local provision.
	We have also run six projects to test out how best to provide safe, flexible and responsive community-based services that can be easily incorporated into mainstream children's services. We will disseminate the lessons learnt from these to local authorities later this year.

Company Law Reform Bill

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list organisations from which his Department has received representations on the Company Law Reform Bill since November 2005; and whether each representation was made (a) in a meeting, (b) in writing and (c) through an other method in each case.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 3 May 2006
	There has been extensive discussion and consultation on issues on the Company Law Reform Bill over some seven years during the work of the Company Law Review, the publication of the White Paper and the subsequent consultation on particular clauses in the Bill. A formal consultation, which concerned narrative reporting, closed on 24 March 2006. In a written reply to parliamentary question No. 67492 the Government's decisions in the light of the consultation were set out. A list of the organisations who made representations is available on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk).
	We have continued to liaise closely on the detail of the Bill with professional and other expert groups. Ministers and officials have received numerous representations in writing and engaged in meetings on various aspects of the Bill, from a wide range of interested parties. It would be disproportionately costly to list these representations in detail.

Electricity Generation

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding has been given by (a) his Department and (b) the Physical Sciences Research Council to the development of (i) molten salt reactors, (ii) very-high-temperature reactors, (iii) supercritical-water-cooled reactors, (iv) gas-cooled fast reactors and (v) sodium-cooled fast reactors to generate electricity in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 8 May 2006
	The Department has provided no funding to these technologies since 1997.
	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council:
	The EPSRC invests in basic, strategic and applied research in energy generation, transmission and utilisation. The Council's total expenditure on nuclear fission research in financial years 1997-98 to 2005-06 is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial Year Expenditure (£) 
			 1997-98 42,111 
			 1998-99 81,228 
			 1999-2000 61,793 
			 2000-01 127,562 
			 2001-02 324,879 
			 2002-03 307,195 
			 2003-04 212,239 
			 2004-05 111,947 
			 2005-06 951,643 
		
	
	The recently announced £6.1 million "Keeping the Nuclear Option Open" research consortium, led by Imperial College London, will be undertaking research to both underpin and specifically address the Generation IV research agenda. In part as a result of this recent major investment, EPSRC's expenditure on nuclear power research in 2006-07 is projected to rise to in excess of £1.7 million.
	EPSRC is unable to identify from its records specific investment in a number of the various Generation IV technologies. EPSRC has recently funded a research project at the University of Manchester on high temperature gas cooled reactors—expenditure on this grant, which is included in the total figures stated above, was £13,505 in 2005-06 and is projected to be £14,849 in 2006-07.

Electricity Generation

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding has been given by (a) his Department and (b) the Physical Sciences Research Council to the development of (i) liquid metal fast breeder reactors and (ii) lead-cooled fast reactors to generate electricity in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has provided no funding to these technologies since 1997.
	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council:
	The EPSRC invests in basic, strategic and applied research in energy generation, transmission and utilisation. The Council's total expenditure on nuclear fission research in financial years 1997-98 to 2005-06 is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial Year Expenditure (£) 
			 1997-98 42,111 
			 1998-99 81,228 
			 1999-2000 61,793 
			 2000-01 127,562 
			 2001-02 324,879 
			 2002-03 307,195 
			 2003-04 212,239 
			 2004-05 111,947 
			 2005-06 951,643 
		
	
	The recently announced £6.1 million "Keeping the Nuclear Option Open" research consortium, led by Imperial College London, will be undertaking research to both underpin and specifically address the Generation IV research agenda. In part as a result of this recent major investment, EPSRC's expenditure on nuclear power research in 2006-07 is projected to rise to in excess of £1.7 million.
	EPSRC is unable to identify from its records specific investment in a number of the various Generation IV technologies. EPSRC has recently funded a research project at the University of Manchester on high temperature gas cooled reactors—expenditure on this grant, which is included in the total figures stated above, was £13,505 in 2005-06 and is projected to be £14,849 in 2006-07.

EU Manufacturing

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to support the manufacturing industry and promote UK exports.

Margaret Hodge: The Government support our manufacturing industry as we set out in our Manufacturing Strategy. Our aim is to help manufacturers in the UK move to high value added production through the application of science and innovation, best practice, encouragement of high value investment and by developing a highly skilled labour force. We set up the Manufacturing Advisory Service in 2002, and we estimate that it has generated £213 million of added value throughout the UK. The Manufacturing Forum to monitor and drives the delivery of the Manufacturing Strategy throughout the UK.
	Support for UK exporters is delivered through UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the Government organisation that supports UK companies trading internationally and overseas companies seeking to locate in the UK. In 2005, nearly 2,000 companies signed up for UKTI's flagship "Passport to Export" development programme helping them prepare to trade internationally, and nearly 6,000 companies were helped to move into overseas markets new to them. Independent research shows that £65 million spent on four UKTI key trade development schemes generated £1.1 billion additional net benefit by enabling over 6,000 businesses, including manufacturers, to upgrade their international marketing strategies.

Fuel Cell Technology

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what help his Department makes available to companies researching hydrogen fuel cell technology for motor vehicle use through a greater understanding of nuclear energy.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI commissioned two reports in 2004 in relation to hydrogen: "Hydrogen Energy Support in the UK" and "A Strategic Framework for Hydrogen Energy Activity in the UK". These reports have been published on the Department's website. The second report identified six potential hydrogen energy chains for the use of hydrogen as a transport fuel. One route is to produce hydrogen from nuclear generation.
	On 15 June 2005, I announced the Government's response to the second report "A Strategic Framework for Hydrogen Energy Activity in the UK" which included a funding package of £15 million over four years for a UK wide hydrogen and fuel cell demonstration programme. The details of the demonstration scheme is currently being developed, and requires EC state aid approval.

Home Working

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what legislation employees are granted a right to work from home; if he has any plans to introduce further legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In spring 2005 there were around3.1 million people in the UK who worked mainly in their own home, or in different places using home as a base. There is no legislation, which gives employees a right to work from home, however the Government encourage employers and employees to agree suitable working patterns.
	In April 2003 we introduced the right to request flexible working, which includes working from home, for parents of children under six and disabled children under 18. The Work and Families Bill, currently before Parliament, extends this right to carers of adults.
	The employment provisions (part 2) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 require employers to consider reasonable adjustments to job application or selection processes, and to premises, practices or procedures, if these would otherwise put a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage. This might include allowing a disabled person to work from home if such an adjustment was reasonable in all the circumstances of the case.
	There are no plans for further legislation relating to working from home.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2006, Official Report, column 1125W, on noise-induced hearing loss (mining), what assessment he has made of the variations in fixed costs between these agreements; what the reasons were for the decision to refuse costs for certain solicitors since 2005; and which of the fixed agreements have been in place since 2001.

Malcolm Wicks: The variations between agreements have arisen as a result of those agreements having been individually and commercially negotiated. Costs are disputed whenever they appear unreasonably high and the reasons for each dispute will vary. The agreements are commercially confidential so I cannot provide details.
	Agreements with the following solicitors have been in place unchanged since 2001:
	Ben Hoare Bell, Brian Mcardle, Browells, Campbell Smith, Comes, Drurnmond Miller, Gorman Hamilton, Gorvin Smith Fort, Graysons, Hickmotts, Ingrams, Kidd & Spoor Harper, Lathams, Lopian Wagner, Marrons, Mcardles, McConville Q'Neill, Meloy Whittle Robinson, Morisons, Mortons, O H Parsons, Oxley & Coward, Pannone & Partners, Raleys, Randell Saunders, Saffmans, Simpson Miller, Thompsons, Watson Burton.

Post Office

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Department has to compensate those post offices which will be adversely affected by the proposed closure of the Post Office Card Account.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 8 May 2006
	The future of the post office network and future revenue will depend on many factors including what accounts, other than the Post Office Card Accounts, will be made available after 2010. Post Office Ltd and Department for Work and Pensions are currently discussing the various options.

Regional Development Agencies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State forTrade and Industry what the (a) total budget and(b) administrative costs were of each of the regional development agencies in 2005-06; and what the estimated costs are for 2006-07.

Margaret Hodge: The 2005-06 figures for the total budget and administration costs for the nine regional development agencies are set out in the first table and the indicative budget and estimated administration costs for 2006-07 are set out in the second table.
	
		
			 2005-06 
			 RDA Figures Budget (£m) Administration (£000) 
			 Advantage West Midlands 272 20,000 
			 East England Development Agency 129 11,200 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 156 15,000 
			 London Development Agency 373 29,500 
			 North West Development Agency 382 38,792 
			 One North East 240 22,500 
			 South East England Development Agency 157 18,000 
			 South West of England Development Agency 153 19,773 
			 Yorkshire Forward 295 19,510 
		
	
	
		
			 2006-07 
			 RDA Figures Budget (£m) Administration (£000) 
			 Advantage West Midlands 284 20,000 
			 East England Development Agency 134 10,900 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 163 16,000 
			 London Development Agency 391 n/a 
			 North West Development Agency 400 38,144 
			 One North East 251 22,607 
			 South East England Development Agency 163 17,900 
			 South West of England Development Agency 159 21,222 
			 Yorkshire Forward 310 19,290 
		
	
	The London Development Agencies administration budget is subject to the approval of their draft 2006-07 corporate plan by the Mayor.

Renewable Energy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent by Government on (a) research into and (b) grants and subsidies to promote renewable energy in each year between 1979 and 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: It would entail disproportionate cost to identify how much was spent by Government on research, grants and subsidies to promote renewable energy in each year between 1979 and 1997. However, information on how much was spent by Government on renewable energy research, development, dissemination and demonstration, between 1989 and 1997, was published by my hon. Friend, the then Energy Minister to the hon. Member for Lewes, of 24 March 2000, Official Report, column 715 W.
	The statistics indicate that investment in renewable energy remained broadly unchanged between 1989 and 1996 at under £26 million a year. This compares to Government spending of around £500 million in renewables and other low carbon technologies between 2002 and 2008. The Chancellor also recently announced in the Budget a further £50 million, on top of the £30 million that I had previously announced, for the Low Carbon Building Programme, which supports microgeneration and energy efficiency measures.

Research and Development

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding his Department has given to research and development via (a) grants,(b) loans and (c) incentive schemes since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The net DTI expenditure, leaving aside the research councils, between 1997 and 2006on R and D via (a) 'grants' represents a cost of£2,490.8 million, (b) 'loans' are not currently used by the Department to fund R and D, (c) 'incentives' in the form of R and D tax credits are owned by the Treasury and as such do not represent an expense on the Department.
	Source: Office of National Statistics 2004 Government survey of R and D on website:
	http://www.ost.gov.uk/setstats/index.htm

Severn Barrage Project

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the merits of a reappraisal of the Severn Barrage project as part of the Government's energy review.

Malcolm Wicks: We are aware of the potential of a Severn barrage scheme, the most recent study of the case for a reappraisal carried out by the Severn Tidal Power Group (available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/publications/Severnbarrage.shtml) being published in 2003.
	The department is currently part way through an energy review that will consider all options and opportunities for ensuring we meet our energy goals in the medium to long-term.

Sub-post Offices

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices have closed in Staffordshire since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I understand from Post Office Ltd. that information on the Post Office® branch network has historically only been held at a national level. More recently records have been maintained at a Government office region and at parliamentary constituency level and this level of data commenced from the end of 2001-02.
	The number of post offices in the constituencies that cover the Staffordshire county area is as follows:
	
		
			 Number of Post Office® branches(1) 
			  Staffordshire 
			 2001-02 305 
			 2002-03 297 
			 2003-04 263 
			 2004-05 229 
			 (1) The network totals include 5 branches that are directly manage by Post Office Ltd.

Uranium

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has made an assessment of the future security of supply of uranium.

Malcolm Wicks: In the context of the energy review, DTI is considering a range of assessments of the future security of supply of uranium, including the recent analysis by the Sustainable Development Commission.
	In addition, a comprehensive report of uranium supply and production is published by The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—"Uranium 2003: Resources, Production and Demand" (The Red Book). An updated version of this report is due for publication on 22 May 2006.

A1

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average traffic levels were at each interchange of the A1 Western bypass from North Gosforth to the New Tyne crossing, Newcastle in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The following table provides the average annual daily totals (AADT) of vehicles using the A1 between the interchange of the A1 with the A1056, north of Gosforth, to the A1 interchange with the A694, to the south of the New Tyne crossing.
	
		
			  2001 AADT 2002 AADT 2003 AADT 
			 Location NB(1) SB(2) Total NB(1) SB(2) Total NB(1) SB(2) Total 
			 A1056-A696 33,000 33,400 66,400 34,400 34,300 68,700 35,900 35,500 71,400 
			 A696-A167 38,900 — — 41,000 — — 42,600 42,600 85,200 
			 A167-A69 43,500 42,500 86,400 43,500 43,900 87,400 46,500 47,700 94,400 
			 A69-A694 44,000 41,600 81,900 45,500 43,500 89,000 46,500 45,000 91,400 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 AADT 2005 AADT 
			 Location NB(1) SB(2) Total NB(1) SB(2) Total 
			 A1056-A696 36,500 36,800 73,300 37,700 37,500 75,200 
			 A696-A167 44,300 44,100 88,500 44,300 43,600 87,900 
			 A167-A69 48,400 51,000 99,400 48,700 47,900 96,600 
			 A69-A694 48,100 46,400 94,500 48,500 46,800 95,300 
			 (1 )NB = Northbound.  (2 )SB = Southbound.

Home Working

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in his Department have been enabled to work from home in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The following numbers of DfT staff have been enabled to work away from the office over the last three years:-
	
		
			  2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 
			 DfT (Central) 384 292 477 
			 DVLA 49 94 188 
			 HA 59 66 64 
			 MCGA (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 VOSA 2 2 2 
			 VGA 30 40 46 
			 GCDA 6 6 8 
			 DSA 0 0 2 
			 (1) Figures unavailable. 
		
	
	The figures represent those enabled to work away from the office by means of remote access IT links. This will include home working, but also working from other official locations. The Department and its agencies have a flexible approach in helping staff meet work life balance commitments. Although the Department does not have a formal home working policy, it has other policies which cover a variety of working patterns, such as flexible working hours, staggered hours, part-time working and job share. Requests to work from home on an ad hoc basis are subject to line agreement.

Ministerial Cars

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ministerial cars are used in each Government Department; what the cost was of maintaining ministerial cars, broken down by Department, in the last year for which figures are available; who supplies ministerial cars; and what discounts the Department receives in relation to the (a) purchase and (b) hire of ministerial cars.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond) on 19 April 2006, Official Report, column 701W. This information was correct as of 4 May. Information on the cost of maintaining each ministerial car is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency is responsible for providing ministerial cars and drivers. Vehicles are purchased through a number of government-wide contracts in accordance with relevant European and domestic procurement legislation. The contracts provide for a range of discounts, but it would not be in the public interest to disclose commercially sensitive details.

Railways

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the train operating companies which requested compensation payments from (a) the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) his Department for losses incurred as a result of industrial action in each month since January 2003.

Derek Twigg: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I given him today [UIN 58390].

Railways

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the passenger growth on the Tamworth to Birmingham railway line was in each year between 1994 and 2005.

Derek Twigg: Information between 1994 and 2005 is not available in the form requested. The percentage change in the number of passengers travelling to and from the named stations is shown in the following tables (this information does not include passengers joining or alighting between these stations or making journeys beyond):
	
		
			 (a) Tamworth to Birmingham 
			 Year(1) Percentage passenger growth 
			 2002-03 1.9 
			 2003-04 16.7 
			 2004-05 4.8 
			 2005-06 -3.0 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) Birmingham to Tamworth 
			 Year(1) Percentage passenger growth 
			 2002-2003 27.1 
			 2003-2004 15.0 
			 2004-2005 -3.9 
			 2005-2006 12.2 
			 (1 )Rail reporting year which is April to March.

Sea Defences

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to attract resources from the European Regional Development Fund to reinstate the old Southern Railway route in Devon in the event of a failure of railway sea defences at Dawlish.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 9 May 2006
	It falls to Network Rail to continue to monitor the likelihood of risks to the safety and operational integrity of the railway in the Dawlish area, arising from possible increases in sea levels associated with climate change; and to propose further appropriate measures of protection from flooding and coastal erosion.
	Network Rail advises me that they do not believe the railway sea defences in the Dawlish area are likely to fail in the foreseeable future. Were this to become more likely, Network Rail would identify and consider a range of options to address any problems, taking account of value for money and affordability.

Stockport Station

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passenger trains have used Platform 0 at Stockport railway station since it became operational.

Derek Twigg: Since January 2006 17 trains have used platform 0 each Sunday to accommodate engineering works. Usage of the platform will increase from the June 2006 timetable change date.

Transport Regulations

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation of Road Vehicle (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971; and what recent representations he has received about the operation of these regulations.

Stephen Ladyman: The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971 have been superseded by the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002. Recent representations in relation to those regulations have focussed on the release of information from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) vehicle register.
	Regulation 27(1 )(e) of the 2002 regulations require that DVLA release particulars held on its vehicle register to anyone who can demonstrate 'reasonable cause' for having the particulars made available to him. The term 'reasonable cause' is not defined in the legislation and each request is considered on its merits.
	These regulations consolidate legislation that has been in force and working efficiently for over 40 years. However, when the provisions were originally introduced they did not anticipate the introduction of electronic databases, the large number of vehicles on the roads, or the range of bodies now requesting access. Concerns have also recently been raised about the breadth of organisations that have access to the register. For these reasons, I announced a review of the regulations governing the release of information. A consultation paper was published on 16 February which sought to address all aspects of the release of information from the vehicle register. The consultation period closed on 31 March 2006 and our conclusions will be published in the near future.

Centenarians

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people aged 100 or over there are in each county in England.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 May 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question regarding the number of people aged 100 or over there are in each county in England. (68392)
	The attached table provides the information requested. The figures are taken from 2001 Census table S001 which is available on the 'CD supplement to the National Report for England and Wales and Key Statistics for local authorities in England and Wales'. Data are shown for current administrative counties. For completeness, figures are also shown for other 'non-county' areas (i.e. London boroughs, metropolitan districts, and unitary authorities).
	Age information for annual mid-year population estimates is available up to age 89 and then 90 and over. It is not possible to calculate reliable annual population estimates for centenarians for sub-national areas.
	
		
			 Population aged 100 and over, English counties, 2001 Census 
			 County Population aged 100 and over 
			 Other areas  
			 Bedfordshire 50 
			 Buckinghamshire 84 
			 Cambridgeshire 92 
			 Cheshire 126 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 107 
			 Cumbria 89 
			 Derbyshire 106 
			 Devon 151 
			 Dorset 92 
			 Durham 67 
			 East Sussex 143 
			 Essex 198 
			 Gloucestershire 111 
			 Hampshire 229 
			 Hertfordshire 145 
			 Isle of Wight 41 
			 Kent 271 
			 Lancashire 184 
			 Leicestershire 83 
			 Lincolnshire 105 
			 Norfolk 154 
			 North Yorkshire 114 
			 Northamptonshire 97 
			 Northumberland 48 
			 Nottinghamshire 112 
			 Oxfordshire 91 
			 Shropshire 53 
			 Somerset 119 
			 Staffordshire 138 
			 Suffolk 133 
			 Surrey 196 
			 Warwickshire 74 
			 West Sussex 190 
			 Wiltshire 84 
			 Worcestershire 92 
			  
			 Barking and Dagenham 18 
			 Barnet 75 
			 Barnsley 26 
			 Bath and North East Somerse 32 
			 Bexley 29 
			 Birmingham 149 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 12 
			 Blackpool 20 
			 Bolton 36 
			 Bournemouth 61 
			 Bracknell Forest 10 
			 Bradford 77 
			 Brent 33 
			 Brighton and Hove 53 
			 Bristol 54 
			 Bromley 54 
			 Bury 23 
			 Calderdale 31 
			 Camden 32 
			 City of London 0 
			 Coventry 37 
			 Croydon 50 
			 Darlington 19 
			 Derby City 36 
			 Doncaster 43 
			 Dudley 51 
			 Baling 45 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 53 
			 Enfield 37 
			 Gateshead 27 
			 Greenwich 29 
			 Hackney 29 
			 Halton 10 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 25 
			 Haringey 32 
			 Harrow 31 
			 Hartlepool 12 
			 Havering 33 
			 Herefordshire, County of 35 
			 Hillingdon 31 
			 Hounslow 21 
			 Islington 21 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 19 
			 Kingston upon Hull 38 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 25 
			 Kirklees 54 
			 Knowsley 15 
			 Lambeth 21 
			 Leeds 115 
			 Leicester City 44 
			 Lewisham 38 
			 Liverpool 60 
			 Luton 27 
			 Manchester 67 
			 Medway 22 
			 Merton 28 
			 Middlesbrough 19 
			 Milton Keynes 26 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 37 
			 Newham 23 
			 North East Lincolnshire 18 
			 North Lincolnshire 37 
			 North Somerset 55 
			 North Tyneside 42 
			 Nottingham City 44 
			 Oldham 33 
			 Peterborough 10 
			 Plymouth 39 
			 Poole 33 
			 Portsmouth 29 
			 Reading 15 
			 Redbridge 29 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 20 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 35 
			 Rochdale 29 
			 Rotherham 32 
			 Rutland 3 
			 Salford 34 
			 Sandwell 40 
			 Sefton 67 
			 Sheffield 70 
			 Slough 11 
			 Solihull 24 
			 South Gloucestershire 36 
			 South Tyneside 36 
			 Southampton 28 
			 Southend 49 
			 Southwark 33 
			 St Helens 25 
			 Stockport 41 
			 Stockton on Tees 17 
			 Stoke on Trent 28 
			 Sunderland 36 
			 Sutton 23 
			 Swindon 28 
			 Tameside 28 
			 Telford and Wrekin 16 
			 Thurrock 12 
			 Torbay 33 
			 Tower Hamlets 28 
			 Trafford 20 
			 Wakefield 42 
			 Walsall 32 
			 Waltham Forest 37 
			 Wandsworth 50 
			 Warrington 27 
			 West Berkshire 21 
			 Westminster, City of 22 
			 Wigan 30 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 27 
			 Wirral 50 
			 Wokingham 16 
			 Wolverhampton 27 
			 York 26 
			 Source:Office for National Statistics

Centenarians

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list primary care trusts in order of (a) average age of population, (b) the proportion of over-65s, (c) the proportion of over 25s and (d) the proportion of over 85s in their areas.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 May 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary Question requesting lists of primary care trusts in order of (a) average age of population, (b) the proportion of over 65's (c) the proportion of over 25's and (d) the proportion of over 85's in their areas. (68393)
	The attached Tables A-D, which I am placing in the House of Commons Library, provide the requested information. The tables are based on mid-2004 population estimates; these are the latest available. The tables provide information on all Primary Care Organisation areas in England: 300 Primary Care Trusts and the 3 Care Trusts (Bexley, Northumberland, and Witham, Braintree & Halstead). The 'median age' measure of average age is used.

Doncaster, North (Statistics)

Edward Miliband: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Doncaster, North residents were employed in mining in (a) 1981, (b) 1991, (c) 2001 and (d) the most recent year for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 May 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment in the mining industry in (a) 1981, (b) 1991, (c) 2001 and (d) the most recent year for which figures are available. (68294)
	The information requested is available from 1991 and 2001 Censuses of Population. Equivalent information from the 1981 Census is not available.
	The 1991 Census shows 132 people resident in the Doncaster North constituency employed in mining. The 2001 Census shows 351 persons aged 16 to 74, resident in the Doncaster North constituency employed in mining and quarrying.
	The 1991 data has been taken from table S73 in the 1991 Census Small Area Statistics which is available on request from Census Customer Services (census.customerservices@ons. gsi.gov.uk). The 2001 data has been taken from table KS11a in the "Census 2001 Report for Parliamentary Constituencies" which is available in the House of Commons Library.

Doncaster, North (Statistics)

Edward Miliband: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ethnic minority residents there were in Doncaster, North (a) in (i) 1981, (ii) 1991 and (iii) 2001 and (b) according to the most recent figures available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 May 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many ethnic minority residents there were in Doncaster North (a) in (i) 1981, (ii) 1991 and (iii) 2001 and (b) according to the most recent figures available. (68305)
	A question on ethnicity was not asked in the 1981 Census and consequently no data are available. Data from the 2001 census are the most recent figures available.
	
		
			 Doncaster, North parliamentary constituency 
			  1991 2001 
			 All people 83,834 82,767 
			
			 White   
			 Total White 83,235 81,909 
			 British (1)n/a 81,191 
			 Irish (1)n/a 357 
			 Other White (1)n/a 361 
			
			 Non-White 599 858 
			 (1) In the 1991 Census there was no sub-division of the "White" ethnic category.  Sources:  Table G in the "Census 1991 New Parliamentary Constituency Monitor for Yorkshire and the Humber" and Table KS06 in the "Census 2001 Report for Parliamentary Constituencies" 
		
	
	The 1991 data has been taken from the counts supporting table G in the "Census 1991 New Parliamentary Constituency Monitor for Yorkshire and the Humber" which is available on request from 2001 Census Customer Services (census.customerservices@ons. gsi.gov.uk). The 2001 data has been taken from KS06 in the "Census 2001 Report for Parliamentary Constituencies" which is available in the House of Commons Library.
	Differences in the ethnic group questions, coding and in the methods for treatment of under-enumeration complicate the making of direct comparisons between 1991 and 2001. More information is provided in the 'Guide to comparing 1991 and 2001 Census ethnic group data' and can be found on the ONS website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/article.asp?ID=1471 &Pos=1&ColRank=1&Rank=64.

Doncaster, North (Statistics)

Edward Miliband: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residents of Doncaster, North worked outside the constituency in (a) 1981, (b) 1991, (c) 2001 and (d) the most recent year for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 May 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many residents of Doncaster North worked outside of the constituency in (a) 1981, (b) 1991 and (c) 2001 and (d) the most recent year for which figures are available. (68320)
	As Doncaster North Parliamentary Constituency did not exist in 1981 no data is available for this year. Data from the 2001 census are the most recent figures available.
	
		
			 Doncaster North parliamentary constituency 
			  Works in Doncaster North Works Outside Doncaster North 
			 1991 (1)14,400 (1)15,270 
			 2001 13,327 19,770 
			 (1 )In 1991 responses to workplace questions were only processed for approximately 10 per cent. of the population. The figures in this table have been grossed up by a factor of 10.16 to account for this.  Source:  1991 and 2001 Census Data

Doncaster, North (Statistics)

Edward Miliband: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people with disabilities were resident in Doncaster North constituency in (a) 1981, (b) 1991, (c) 2001 and (d) the most recent period for which figures are available, broken down by disability.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 May 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many people with disabilities were resident in Doncaster North constituency in (a) 1981, (b) 1991 and (c) 2001 and (d) the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by disability. (68328)
	The Census is the only data source suitable for local area statistics of this nature. The Census question asked whether the respondent perceived themselves to have a long-term limiting illness, health problem or disability which limits their daily activities or the work they can do, including problems that are due to old age. This is a "yes" or "no" question and no breakdown of illness of disability is available. The figures in the table below therefore cover not only disability but also health problems and old age. This question was first asked in the 1991 Census and therefore data for 1981 is unavailable. Data from the 2001 census are the most recent figures available.
	
		
			 Doncaster North parliamentary constituency 
			  All people Has a limiting long-term Illness 
			 1991 83,834 14,350 
			 2001 82,767 19,933 
			 Source: Tables 12 and 13 in the 1991 Census Small Area Statistics and UV22 in the Census 2001 Census Area Statistics for Parliamentary Constituencies 
		
	
	The 1991 data has been amalgamated from tables 12 and 13 in the 1991 Census Small Area Statistics which is available on request from Census Customer Services [census.customerservices @ons.gsi.gov.uk]. The 2001 data has been taken from table UV22 on the CD supplement to the Census 2001 Census Area Statistics for Parliamentary Constituencies which is available in the Statistical Research Unit in the

Euro Preparations Unit

Michael Gove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total costs of the Treasury's Euro Preparations Unit were in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05 and (d) 2005-06; how many (i) full and (ii) part-time staff there were in each year; what the programme budget was for each year; what projects were undertaken in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: The costs of the Euro Preparations Unit (EPU) in each of these years were met from within the Treasury's departmental expenditure limit. The number of staff in EPU varied within each year, reflecting normal staff turnover. The mid-year figures were:
	
		
			 As at September EPU staffing(1) 
			 2002 17 
			 2003 13 
			 2004 10 
			 2005 9 
			 (1) Full-time equivalents 
		
	
	The projects and activities of the Euro Preparation Unit are set out in the reports on euro preparations available on the Treasury's public website (www.euro.gov.uk). Central planning documents including the managed transition plan and the consumer protection framework are well developed and the focus of EPU is now on maintaining these and the network of expert stakeholders.

Kidney Failure

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) England and (b) Dorset died as a result of kidney failure in 2005.

John Healey: The Information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 May 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many people in (a) England and (b) Dorset died as a result of kidney failure in 2005. (68311)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2004. Numbers of deaths in 2004 where kidney failure was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate are included in the attached table.
	Kidney failure can be the result of a number of different conditions or diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or infections. In most cases the underlying cause of death will be one of these causes rather than kidney failure. To provide more complete figures, numbers of deaths with a mention of kidney failure have therefore been provided rather than deaths where this was the underlying cause.
	
		
			 Deaths with a mention of kidney failure,(1) England and Dorset,(2, 3) 2004(4) 
			  Number of deaths 
			 England 26,207 
			 Dorset 237 
			 (1) Deaths with a mention of kidney failure were defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The codes used are listed as follows: Renal failure—ICD10 N17-N19 (2) Figures for Dorset are for the current county which excludes the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole, created in 1997.  (3) Usual residents of these areas.  (4) Deaths registered in the 2004 calendar year.

Newhaven Port

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals used the facility installed at Newhaven port to allow them to declare goods remotely by telephone in 2005.

Dawn Primarolo: Currently travellers and vehicles arriving at the Port of Newhaven arrive directly from another EU member state. As declarations are only required from individuals arriving from outside the EU, no declaration point is required and no 'Red Point' telephone is installed.

Private Healthcare (Taxation)

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue to be raised in the tax year 2006-07 from the decision to treat employer contributions to private medical schemes for people in retirement as a benefit in kind.

Edward Balls: A Regulatory Impact Assessment ('Regulatory Impact Assessment for Simplifying the taxation of pensions'?Update') was published on22 March 2006 setting out the Government's assessment of the impact of the changes to the new simplified regime for pensions taxation introduced in the 2006 Budget. This is available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/ria-pensions-simplification.pdf. The Government estimate that pensions tax simplification will havean overall cost to the Exchequer building up to£250 million per year.

Stamp Duty

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals paid stamp dutyon (a) residential and (b) commercial property transactions, in (i) each Government office region,(ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland in each financial year since 1996-97.

Edward Balls: The estimated number of residential and non-residential transactions, where stamp duty was payable on account of the value of the transaction being higher than the stamp duty threshold, is given in the following tables for the years and regions for which information is available. The Stamp Duty threshold for residential transactions was £60,000 up to 16 March 2005 and £120,000 from 17 March 2005. For non-residential transactions the threshold was £60,000 up to 30 November 2003 and £150,000 from 1 December 2003 to the end of 2004-05. Residential transactions from 30 November 2001 with values above £60,000 and up to £150,000 in designated disadvantaged areas were relieved from stamp duty and have been excluded from these figures. However non-residential transactions which were valued above the threshold but paid no duty due to the operation of reliefs (e.g. disadvantaged area relief, charitable relief) are included in the table because reliable estimates of all relieved transactions are not available.
	
		
			 Number (Thousand) 
			  1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 
			 Residential  
			 England 531 630 640 806 786 925 1,001 878 981 
			 North East 11 17 14 18 17 19 22 33 32 
			 North West 43 47 53 67 73 84 94 86 99 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 31 35 36 48 48 41 58 57 80 
			 East Midlands 29 34 38 48 51 45 74 64 89 
			 West Midlands 44 48 51 60 65 69 85 64 84 
			 East of England 65 79 82 102 102 125 124 111 130 
			 London 116 139 139 178 158 172 169 139 150 
			 South East 129 157 152 189 170 233 233 191 198 
			 South West 64 75 76 98 101 136 142 134 119 
			 Wales 17 19 19 26 24 34 42 47 38 
			 Scotland n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 56 66 80 n/a 
			 Northern Ireland 13 17 18 26 21 21 32 24 27 
			   
			 Commercial  
			 England 42 53 48 49 39 48 52 48 33 
			 North East 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 
			 North West 4 5 5 5 4 5 7 7 4 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 3 4 4 4 3 6 7 5 3 
			 East Midlands 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 
			 West Midlands 5 6 5 5 4 4 4 5 4 
			 East of England 6 7 6 6 4 4 5 5 3 
			 London 7 8 8 8 7 10 8 5 5 
			 South East 7 10 7 9 6 9 7 8 5 
			 South West 4 6 7 6 5 7 8 7 4 
			 Wales 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 4 2 
			 Scotland n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 6 7 7 n/a 
			 Northern Ireland 1 2 2 3 2 3 4 3 3 
			 n/a = not available

Tax Credits

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax credit fraud has been perpetrated by HM Revenue and Customs' employees; and how many HM Revenue and Customs' employees have been prosecuted for tax credit fraud.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has robust procedures in place to identify abuse of the tax credits system, and has identified the false use of the names of a number of DWP staff, as outlined in the answer I gave to the hon. member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 18 January 2006, Official Report, column 1357W.
	No fraud has been found to have been perpetrated by HMRC employees as a result of this investigation, but prosecution will always be pursued against the very small number of HMRC's 98,000 staff who abuse their position of trust. There are four HMRC employees who are currently being prosecuted for other alleged tax credit fraud involving amounts totalling £500,000. These cases have yet to be concluded in the courts.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the morale of staff working at the tax credits office; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC takes the morale and wellbeing of its staff very seriously, including those working at the tax credit office, and takes very seriously the maintenance and improvement of staff well being.

Tax Credits

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 30 March, Official Report, column 117W, on tax credits, how many monetary payments have been agreed between HM Revenue and Customs and recipients of tax credits where people have deliberately or negligently made incorrect statements (a) in total and (b) in each compliance office in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in the last year for which information is available; and how many involved payments of (i) less than £250,(ii) £250 to £499, (iii) £500 to £999 and (iv) £1,000 and over.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 18 April 2006
	The following table provides details of the number of penalties imposed in total and in the Claimant Compliance Offices that cover the Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
	
		
			 Penalties: Period 26 March 2005 to 21 March 2006 
			 Penalty bands CCC E.Hants/Wight CCC Surrey/N.Hants/ Berks CCC W.Hants Total 
			 Under £250 
			 Number of cases with penalties 0 1 2 3 
			 Sum of penalties (£) 0.00 66.00 210.00 276.00 
			  
			 £250-£499 
			 Number of cases with penalties 34 14 22 70 
			 Sum of penalties (£) 10,473.00 4,275.00 6,929.00 21,677.00 
			  
			 £500-£999 
			 Number of cases with penalties 0 10 12 31 
			 Sum of penalties (£) 5,375.00 5,200.00 6,003.00 16,578.00 
			  
			 National 
			 Number of cases with penalties — — — 2,148 
			 Sum of penalties (£) — — — 825,235.16

Tax Credits

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals in the Peterborough constituency were overpaid tax credits in the financial year 2004-05; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Tax credits are awarded to families rather than individuals. For the number of 2004-05 awards to families that have been overpaid, by constituency, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for West Lancashire (Rosie Cooper) on 24 April 2006, Official Report, column 878W.

Valuation Office Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information the Valuation Office Agency will have access to as a consequence of the implementation of the Valuebill project.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	The only additional information that the VOA receives through the Valuebill initiative that was not available previously is the NLPG unique property reference numbers (UPRN) and co-ordinates of the property, both of which are used to correctly identify the property concerned.

Stationery Supplies

Andrew Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what recent discussions the House authorities have had with stationery suppliers on procuring alternative cheaper stationery for use by Members.

Nick Harvey: The House Authorities regularly re-tender the contract for the supply of stationery. During the contract term they have regular meetings with the contractor in order to monitor the service and costs, most recently in April 2006. Costs are presently lower than they were in 2002 and the contract is due to be re-let in competition in 2007. Members' bespoke stationery is high quality comprising specially designed and milled environmentally friendly paper and envelopes. The stationery contract includes the provision of a next day delivery anywhere in the UK and a unique management system which allows two accounts to be held for each Member—one for their own stationery and one for the bespoke stationery provided separately by the House.